Seal.



w. COLLINS.

SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED D130. 2a, 1908.

Patented Nov. 2

Witnesses WALLACE COLLINS, OF HANFORD, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Application filed December 28, 1908. Serial No. 469,683.

T 0 all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVALLACE COLLINS, of Hanford, in the county of Kings and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to that class of seals formed of a single piece of metal so shaped and bent as to preclude unlocking after being once snapped into position.

The object of this invention is to provide a seal of this character which will be simple in construction; which may be produced at minimum cost; which will be durable; and 0111c cpapable of being easily and quickly app 1e In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 shows the blank extended. Fig. 2 shows the parts in the first stage of completion. Fig. 3 shows a further step. Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section on lines l4:, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows the housing completed. Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are diagrammatic views showing the positions occupied by the parts in effecting the locking of the seal. Fig. 10 is a perspective of the completed seal.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a long narrow strap having near one end a widened portion 2 and a depressed portion 3. One end of the strap is split longitudinally, as at 5, to form two corresponding tongues 6 and 7, which are bent back upon themselves to form spring hooks S and 9, such hooks being on opposite sides of the respective tongues. The other end of the blank, immediately adjacent the depressed portion 3, has a rentrant slit 9 to form a tongue 10 which is slightly deflected at. its free end from the plane of the end of the strap. This end portion is bent back upon the depressed portion 3, which in turn is bent back upon the widened portion 2, the latter together with the depressed portion 8 forming a housing 12 for the locking members. The longitudinal edges of the widened portion 2 are bent over the edges of the de pressed portion to which they are held by crimping, as shown at 13. The entrance to the housing is between the open end of the depressed portion 3 and the widened portion 2. The strap is formed near its outer free end with a cut-out 14 which acts as a telltale to prevent the strap being cut and again inserted in the housing.

In the use of the seal the narrow strap 1 .is' looped and the tongues 6 and 'I inserted into the housing 12-; The tongue 6 on coming in contact with the tongue 19 passes on to the other side of the end portion of the blank opposite to the tongue 7, and when the ends of the hooks 8 and 9 are free of the end of the blank the hooks will spring outwardly in opposite directions, thereby securely locking one end of the strap to the other. hen the hook-carrying end of strap 1 is inserted in the housing the hooks are crowded against the body of the blank and so remain until they are free of the end thereof, whereupon they expand to their normal positions. It is now impossible to withdraw the inserted end as the hooks will be on opposite sides of the end of the body portion.

It will be observed that once the hookcarrying end of the strap is inserted within the housing it is impossible to detach the parts save by destruction of the seal.

I claim as my invention:

1. A seal comprising a strap having at its locking end a reentrant slit to form a tongue, which latter is slightly deflected at one end, a housing inclosing such tongue, the free end of the strap having two tongues, each of which carries a hook for overlapping the locking end of the strap on opposite sides thereof.

2. A seal comprising a strap having a widened portion and an adjacent depressed portion, the edges of the widened portion being secured to the edges of the depressed portion to form a housing open at one end, a locking portion conslsting of a slitted end of the strap having a tongue located within said housing, said strap having at its free end two tongues for entering said housing, each tongue being bent back upon itself to form a spring hook, one of said tongues being guided by the tongue of the locking end to that side of the strap opposite the other tongue, and said hooks being designed to prevent the free end of the strap from being withdrawn.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALLA CE COLLINS. Witnesses RoBT. W. MILLER, IDA KURTZ. 

